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Gray Station Farmers’ Market Standards
Mission Statement The Gray Station Farmers Market will foster land stewardship, good health, and community interaction by creating an outlet for small farmers to market locally produced products directly to the consumer. The Market will provide a foundation for building partnerships among farmers, agriculturists, consumers, and the business community.
Promotion The image of the Market will be promoted as a place for social interaction and as a source for locally produced agricultural products. Among the other aspects of the Market to be emphasized are the cultural and economic importance of supporting local farmers and the nutritional benefits of eating fresh foods.
Dates and Hours of Operation Gray Station Farmers Market (also known in this document as Market) operates on Saturdays. The start and end of the market season will be decided by Board of Directors. Hours of operation are 8:00 am until... with set up time beginning at 7 am -7:45 am. As with other outdoor markets, there is no alternative location for inclement weather.
Who Can Sell Sellers are all persons who actually produce the fruits, vegetables, plants, herbs, flowers, eggs (labeled un-graded), honey, and/or other approved products that they intend to sell at the Market.
Also: 1. All vendors at the Market shall comply with all applicable Georgia State and local Laws, including, but not limited to, Fair Business Practices Act, License, Permits, Sales Tax and any other law pertaining to the sale of merchandise.
2. All produce and products must be grown and/or produced by Market vendors with the exception of guest vendors as written in next paragraph.
3. Guest vendors may be invited to the market to participate as guests for special events or certain other limited pur- poses. Guest vendor participation must be approved by the Board of Directors prior to participation.
4. Produce may be brokered (sold by others) on a case-by-case basis. The broker-vendor must submit an application showing the products he/she intends to sell and by whom they were grown or produced.
What Can Be Sold Approved products include:
1. Any vegetable, flower sprouts, or herbs grown by the vendor from seed, sets, or seedlings. 2. Fruits, nuts, or berries grown by the vendor from trees, bushes, or vines on the seller’s property, 3. Any plant grown by the vendor from seed seedling,( including Christmas trees), cuttings or division bulbs and seeds propagated by the vendor. 4. Eggs produced by the vendor’s poultry. Honey produced by the vendor's bees.
Local laws, ordinances, and requirements.
5. Plant products grown and crafted by the vendor (wreaths, garlic braids, herbal salves, dried figs). 6. Displays for taking orders or promotion of agricultural related products. 7. Wool from vendor’s animals.
Fees and Reservations All fees are to go to the promotion of the Market and payment of any applicable expenses including but not limited to Market Manager salary, public relations, advertising, market supplies, market fixtures, and customary business expenses.
1. $5.00 per space... per day on vendor wagon. Fee paid per sale at set up time. Spaces available on first come first serve basis.
2. $10.00 Truck space (standard size pick up truck) per sale per day. Fee paid per sale at set up time. Spaces available on first come first serve basis.
Space Assignments 1. Vendors and displays must stay within the allotted space.
Setup and Parking 1. Vendors must be on site to set up between 7 AM and 7:30 AM.
2. All vehicles must be moved from the Market area by no later than 7:45 AM. Vendors may not move their vehicles in or out of the Market area during the hours of operation, subject to the discretion of the Market Manager. Please park in the designated vendor parking area.
3. Vendors are responsible for their own rented space. Each vendor is responsible for keeping their space clean, and to tidy up before leaving. Vendors must move all trash and dispose of it properly. Vendors may not use public trash receptacles for market trash.
4. Vendors must post prices for all items on visible 3" x 5" cards.
5. Sellers are encouraged to present their product in the best light and offer high quality fresh produce.
6. Vendors selling by the pound must use a scale certified by the Georgia Dept. of Agriculture. The Market will arrange for the GA Dept. of Agriculture to come out and certify scales at the Market once a year. lf any vendor misses this day, it is his/her responsibility to contact the Georgia Dept. of Agriculture individually to have the scale certified.
7. Vendors, their employees, and associates shall dress and act in a professional manner with customers, vendors, and staff. Any disputes of such will be addressed by the GSFM.
8. The Market Manager or GSFM has the right to require a vendor to change his or her display if it is deemed to present a safety risk or otherwise does not comply with market rules.
9. Vendors must keep their displays up until the end of market. All displays and vehicles must be removed from the market lot by end of sale day (official sundown). Farm Inspection The Gray Station Farmers Market Executive Board reserves the right to visit any vendor’s farm or place of production at any time; such inspections may or may not he announced. The primary purpose will be to determine whether the vendor is in fact producing all he/she is selling at the market in the manner claimed in the application and as indicated by space signage. This may be necessary if the origin of the produce is in question.
Compliance with Market Standards Compliance will be the responsibility of the Market Executive Board or the Market Manager. After giving the vendor an opportunity to be heard, the GSFM or Market Manager will determine whether there has been a violation. The GSFM or Market Manager determines that there has been a violation, the GSFM will take whatever action it, in its sole discretion, deems appropriate and just. The GSFM retains the right to limit or revoke any vendor's privileges in the Gray Station Farmers Market.
The following items are prohibited: firearms, alcoholic beverages, and unleashed pets.
Vendor/Customer Conflicts Any conflict, or potential conflict, which may arise between a vendor and a customer, must be brought to the attention of the Market Manager/Board of Directors for mediation.
Market Manager The Market Manager is responsible for running the Market. All disputes are to be brought to his/her attention. The Market Manager will enforce all rules and perform duties as defined by the GSFM. The Market Manager will he hired by the Market Executive Board and answer only to it.
Market Executive Board The Market Executive Board has ultimate discretion with respect to all matters concerning the Market. It will have no more than 9 (nine) members. It is to be made up of farmers and local interested residents. To ensure Market continuity, the Charter Board will consist of 3 members (Chair, Secretary and Treasurer) with two year terms and the remaining members with one year terms. Thereafter, Board members will be elected as terms expire. Board members may serve consecutive terms if duly elected.
Special Events From time to time, the Gray Station Farmers Market may sponsor special events (i.e. live music. holiday celebrations, festivals, etc.). Vendors are asked to accommodate and support these events, as they benefit the entire Market.
Modifications Any modifications of the rules and regulations governing the Market must be approved by an Executive Board vote once unless required by a public authority or applicable law or modifications must also be approved by the Gray Station Better Hometown Board of Directors.
Hold Harmless Clause and Insurance GSFM authorized vendors participating in the Gray Station Farmers Market are independent operators and not partners or joint ventures, and shall be individually and severally liable for any loss, personal injury, deaths, and by any other damages that may occur as a result of the vendor’s negligence or that of its employees, agents, and associates. All vendors are required to sign the Hold Harmless Clause included In the Market application. All vendors agree to indemnify and save the Gray Station Farmers Market, Gray Station Better Hometown, the City of Gray, Jones County Commission, and Jones County Board of Education harmless from any loss, costs, damages, and other expenses including attorney’s fees, suffered or incurred by The Gray Station Farmers Market by reason of vendor’s negligence or intentional misconduct or that of its employees, agents, and associates; provided that the vendor shall not be liable for nor required to indemnify the Gray Station Farmers Market, Gray Station Better Hometown, The City of Gray, Jones County Commission or Jones County Board of Education for the negligence of any of them or that of their servants, agents, employees or associates. Because no Insurance is provided at the Gray Station Farmers Market concerning vendors, each vendor must carry his or her own personal and product liability insurance. Furthermore, vehicle liability insurance is required to cover any damage caused to persons or property by a vendor’s vehicle.
I acknowledge that I have read and understand this application. I have been provided a copy of the Gray Station Farmers Market Standards that govern this operation and agree to abide by these policies. I further agree to allow representatives of the Market to visit the premises where the products I intend to sell are produced or grown.
Signed______________________________________________________ Date__________________________
Contact us:
Pat Daniels, Manager Phone (478) 986-5199 Fax (478) 986-6675
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